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The Dying Christian, Part 2

by Ben Klaus

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Section 1. The Scriptures

We believe that the Bible, exclusively comprised of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments is the Word of God, verbally and plenarily inspired, in the original manuscripts. It is therefore infallible and inerrant in all matters to which it speaks.

We believe the Bible to be the true center of Christian unity and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creed, and opinion will be tried (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

Section 2. The True God

We believe that God is the infinite and perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support, and end.

We believe that God eternally exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This triunity is identical in nature; having the same attributes and perfection; equal in power and glory; deserving the same honor, praise, and obedience; worthy of all worship and adoration; distinct in function; and working harmoniously to accomplish the Divine plan of God (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 18:30; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 1:16-17).

Section 3. Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the trinity, coequal and coeternal with God the Father and God the Spirit, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order to reveal God, redeem sinful man, and ultimately to establish God’s eternal kingdom.

We believe that Jesus Christ, being incapable of and wholly without sin, freely bore the guilt and punishment of the sins of all mankind on the cross; rose bodily from the dead three days thereafter; and is now seated in heaven functioning as our Intercessor, Advocate, and High Priest (Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1,2,18; Romans 3:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1).

Section 4. The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, coequal and coeternal with, and having the same nature as God the Father and God the Son, was active in creation, inspiration, and the incarnation. He functions today by restraining sin and Satan; convicting men of sin, righteousness, and judgment; and regenerating, baptizing, indwelling, sealing, illuminating, sanctifying, and bestowing gifts to believers (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 28:19; John 16:8-11; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

We believe the gifts of tongues and healing were given to some early Christians as a temporary sign confirming God’s Word and authenticating their message, but are not applicable since the completion of God’s written revelation as found in the Scriptures. The present-day Charismatic, tongues/healing phenomenon may be explained as psychological, fraudulent, emotional, and/or demonic in nature, and has no biblical basis whatsoever (1 Corinthians 12-14).

Section 5. Angels and Satan

We believe that, prior to God’s bringing the earth into existence, He created an innumerable host of personal spirit beings called angels.

We believe that Satan was one of those angels who, because of pride and ambition, rebelled against and became the eternal enemy of God; that he gathered to himself other angels now called demons; and that he became the ruler of all the powers of darkness. Satan is the great adversary of God and His children. Though Satan and his demons are both influential and powerful, they are limited by God, were defeated at the cross, and ultimately will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Job 38:6-7; Matthew 4:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10).

Section 6. Man

We believe that on the sixth day of creation, God created man from the dust of the infant earth and breathed into him the breath of life; and that the Genesis account of Creation is fully accurate, God’s creative acts being completely apart from any evolutionary process.

We believe that Adam was created in the image of God in a state of innocence (or untested holiness) but by a voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, thus bringing physical and spiritual death upon the entire human race; that because Adam is our representative all mankind are now sinners by nature and conduct; are totally depraved, alienated from the life and family of God; are deserving of God’s eternal condemnation; and have no possible means of salvation within themselves (Genesis 1-2; Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-19; 5:12,19).

With regard to human sexuality, we believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. (Genesis 2:24; 19:5-13; 26:8-11; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:21-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1, 9-11; 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)

We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother or child are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:24; Jeremiah 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

Section 7. Salvation

We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be born again; that the provision of salvation is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who is the only acceptable sacrifice for sinful man; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about by our sovereign God in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of faith, repentance, and newness of life (John 3:3,8; Acts 16:20-33; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; 1 John 5:1; 2 Peter 1:4).

Section 8. Justification

We believe that justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the believer righteous on the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer and His death on our behalf. (Romans 3:24; 4:5; 5:1-9; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9)

Section 9. The Security and Perseverance of Believers

We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God and are secure in His salvation; that they, by means of the Spirit’s power, will continue in their commitment to Christ and His gospel, and the cardinal doctrines of Biblical Christianity; that they will develop in personal purity and holiness realizing the potential of divine blessings or chastisement (John 10:27-30; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:14; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:3; 5:16-17).

Section 10. The Church

We believe in the One True Church, the body and bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, into which all believers of the present age are placed; and that the members of this spiritual body should assemble themselves together in local churches (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 5:23-32).

We believe that a local church is an organized congregation of immersed believers associated by the covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors (elders) and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in The Scriptures. We believe the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men, the edification of the saints, and the worship of God in all of its services and activities. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only Chief Shepherd is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for our church to cooperate with other churches of like precious faith in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel; that each local church is sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation, and that on all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of the local church (in accordance with the Scriptures) is final (Acts 2:41-42; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:4).

Section 11. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful depiction our identification with and commitment to the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, through whom we died to sin and rose to a new life. We believe that baptism is to be performed under the authority of the local church, and that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership.

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is the commemoration of His death, burial, and resurrection until He comes, and should always be preceded by solemn self-examination. Participants in the Lord’s Supper should be immersed believers (Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).

Section 12. Separation

We believe in the Biblical doctrine of separation which encompasses the following: (1) the separation of the local church from all affiliation, fellowship, and cooperation with those who deny the doctrines of the true Christian faith (such as The World and National Council of Churches), and groups which endorse the attitudes of the Neo (New) Evangelicals. We believe that the church should refuse to be involved in compromising alliances, even with well-meaning evangelical people, whereby its testimony would be impaired and its position confused. Specifically we reject the idea that our church should cooperate with unbelievers and apostate churches even if by so doing beneficial results may seem to be produced (2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 2 Timothy 3:5; 2 John 9-11); (2) the separation of the individual believer from all worldly practices that would dishonor Christ (Ephesians 5:11; Hebrews 12:1-2); (3) and that all believers should be separated unto the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

Section 13. Civil Government

We believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; that those in authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed, except in those things opposed to the will of God (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).

Section 14. Future Events

We believe that Christ will return for (“rapture”) the saints of this age at a time known only to God; that this coming is imminent and will take place prior to the outpouring of God’s wrath in the seven-year period known as the tribulation. Following the seven-year tribulation period, Jesus Christ will return with the raptured saints (His “Second Coming”) to defeat the Antichrist and his armies and to institute God’s Kingdom on earth. This literal 1,000 year reign of Christ (the “millennium”) will then be followed by the Great White Throne Judgment, the destruction of the present heavens and earth, the creation of new heavens and a new earth, and the establishment of the eternal kingdom. (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:4-31; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-17; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 19:7, 11-21; 20:1-22:5)